Three Oceans

Because the overseas territories serve as gateways between France and the rest of the world, in 2019 AFD adopted a new strategy, called Three Oceans, to promote their integration into the regional basin. With this new approach, AFD supports cooperative projects with neighboring countries in overseas regions.

Its aims include facilitating an inclusive approach for economic and social convergence between the overseas territories and mainland France, international solidarity to support the development of those territories’ neighboring countries, and a response to shared challenges.

AFD has several assets to help it succeed in such a diverse context, namely strong roots in both France’s overseas territories and their neighboring states, and a strong ability to encourage financial flows between stakeholders, both French and international.

We are also active in the countries and territories in these basins:

• Atlantic Ocean: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Haiti, Martinique, Caribbean Islands, Suriname, Dominican Republic, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and potentially Guyana.
• Indian Ocean: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Seychelles and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF)
• Pacific Ocean: New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Federated States of Micronesia, Palaos, Salomon Islands, Nauru, and Timor Leste.

The regional Three Oceans approach is designed to offer a global response to cross-border issues (such as health crises, migratory phenomena, waste management, and security threats) and those common to the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Pacific basins (such as land use planning, higher education, vocational training, and health issues). In health issues, for example, we support the regional monitoring networks in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions and health cooperation between Guyana and Suriname.

By decompartmentalizing concerns and activities shared by the Three Oceans countries and overseas territories, regional action enables AFD to support overseas and foreign companies in promising industries, such as ecotourism on the Indian Ocean islands. It also showcases French expertise in innovation, for example in the sectors of infrastructure construction and renewable energy.

With the Three Oceans strategy, AFD is acting to support economic and social development and the well-being of the people who live in these regions. The Group is committed to strengthening social ties between populations and regions in all its initiatives, in keeping with the “100% social ties” commitment in its Strategy. Above all, it strives to foster more dialog with local stakeholders and civil society in order to better meet their needs.

In France’s overseas territories and their neighboring states, fighting inequality remains a priority. AFD Group has a special focus on the most fragile populations (women, young people, underprivileged communities) and on social and economic disparities within the territories and greater basins. Gender equality is an essential component of regional economic and social development. 

When it comes to climate and natural risks, eroding biodiversity related to human activities, and other threats, France’s overseas territories and their neighbors are especially exposed. They must preserve their ecosystems while reducing their vulnerability.

AFD particularly emphasizes the resiliency of people and territories in response to natural disasters, working on prevention and insurance initiatives to this end. In Saint-Martin, an island that was devastated by Hurricane Irma, AFD is working to reduce the factors of vulnerability.

To fight climate change, AFD promotes regional development through adaptation by residents, the preservation of ecosystems, and low-carbon growth. Alongside the European Commission, we participate in the Pacific initiative to protect biodiversity in small island states and territories and help them adapt to unpredictable climate conditions.

France’s overseas territories give it the second-largest maritime domain in the world... and the responsibility to protect and sustainably draw upon these marine ecosystems. AFD intends to position itself on the cutting edge of protecting and safely utilizing marine biodiversity. In partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the KfW, AFD contributes to the Clean Oceans initiative to eliminate ocean pollution.
 

Acting in conjunction with partners allows AFD to enrich the design of its projects, boost its results and impact, and encourage innovation and expertise sharing between peers.

In the Three Oceans, AFD Group is stepping up its collaboration with regional and national institutions and organizations in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Pacific basins. Regional organizations like the Indian Ocean Commission, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in the Atlantic, or the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in the Pacific, as well as local governments and civil society organizations, are all front-line partners for AFD-funded projects.

As a central player in the overseas territories and Three Oceans countries, the European Union is also one of our key partners.